"beat to the socks"

Posted by James Briggs on February 18, 2002

In Reply to: "Beat to the socks" posted by Patty on February 18, 2002

: Jack Kerouac used to claim that the term "Beat Generation" came from the expression "beat to the socks". The other day, someone played me an old recording by a singer, pianist, songwriter named Fats Waller. His song had a line that went "when they play those swing songs it beats me to my socks". What does this expression mean?? Thanks. - Patty

A guess, but surely that the rhythm is so strong that your whole body reverberates to it - right down to your socks.